The 16-year-old broke her right ankle after landing short on her beam dismount during training Wednesday at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships. Gowey pitched forward and immediately fell to her knees, grabbing her right ankle. Gowey appeared to be in tears as coach Liang Chow carried her off the podium.

Gowey had only planned to do two events at championships after injuring her left ankle earlier in the week.

"I would assume she can't be in play for worlds," national team coordinator Martha Karolyi said. "It's a big shame because she is one of the girls who came in really strong this year."

There are high expectations for Gowey, who trains with Chow at the same West Des Moines, Iowa, gym that produced Gabby Douglas and Shawn Johnson. Douglas won two gold medals at the London Olympics including the all-around title, while Johnson was the 2007 world champion and balance beam gold medalist at the Beijing Games.

Gowey missed last year's nationals with a back injury. But she returned strong, finishing fifth at the Cup of Jesolo, her first international meet. She was fourth at last month's U.S. Classic, finishing behind reigning world champion Simone Biles, Fierce Fiver Kyla Ross and Maggie Nichols.